CHICAGO | Obama Presidential Library

[Mister Uptempo]

Why stop at tearing out Cornell at Hayes? Why not just tear Cornell out all the way to 67th, and then, if possible, widen Stony Island between 67th and 56th? Not familiar with the traffic patterns there, so forgive me in advance if what I propose sounds idiotic. I do idiotic well.

[Via Chicago]

Originally Posted by maru2501

I like it too

minimizes the loss of park space and I think is futuristic and iconic

honestly not seeing whats futuristic about this.

theres just not grace to this building at all. its a hunk.

[ithakas]

I like this a lot, and I trust Williams/Tsien to knock it out of the park with the details (no pun intended).

It feels like we're finally getting a Herzog and de Meuron building, without it quite being a Herzog and de Meuron building.

[rlw777]

Originally Posted by BVictor1

Perhaps not...

are these curved dotted paths across the west lagoon and across stony island to the midway supposed to be bridges or tunnels?

[woodrow]

Originally Posted by Via Chicago

honestly not seeing whats futuristic about this.

theres just not grace to this building at all. its a hunk.

I think in clumsy hands this could be a hunk, but Tsien Williams really are good with detailing. I also think the cut outs on the SW (and NE?) corners of the buidling will counter the massing of stone (excited to see what stone they chose and how they treat it).

[Via Chicago]

im not concerned about details, im sure theres is plenty of budget to ensure its executed to the architects vision. my concern is more the vision itself.

[rlw777]

There's some other glimpses of the model on the homepage here https://www.obama.org/

and in the video here

[emathias]

Originally Posted by woodrow

It looks closed to me. Look at the width of "Cornell" compared to Stony Island. The way the paths meander makes me think it is being turned into a path.

Also, in the model there are no cars on Cornell.

Originally Posted by BVictor1

Yeah, I'm looking at that.

Maybe they're justifying that by saying it'll counterbalance the loss of parkland for the presidential center.

From the Tribune story:

"The design calls for closing Cornell Drive, a major thoroughfare that runs through Jackson Park, to create a campus-like setting for the presidential center. That is likely to draw fire from thousands of drivers who each day use Cornell, which links South Lake Shore Drive, Stony Island Boulevard and the Chicago Skyway."

[woodrow]

The live stream is great - https://news.uchicago.edu/webcast/li...%C2%A0-1245-pm

[msu2001la]

Originally Posted by BVictor1

If you look at the site plan above, it appears that Cornell remains open.

Pretty sure that's a pedestrian path, not a road.

[msu2001la]

Originally Posted by rlw777

are these curved dotted paths across the west lagoon and across stony island to the midway supposed to be bridges or tunnels?

I'm sure they're bridges. A long curved skinny tunnel like that would be really expensive, and a miserable experience to walk through.

[Mr Downtown]

Knowing the topography of the Midway there, I'm pretty sure those represent a tunnel.

It seems kind of pointless, though, with the impenetrable IC embankment just out of sight at the bottom.

[BuildThemTaller]

Has anyone mentioned frustrum yet? Between the Obama Library + Museum and Vista, the frustrum is the new shape of Chicago...

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[ardecila]

Originally Posted by Mr Downtown

Knowing the topography of the Midway there, I'm pretty sure those represent a tunnel.

It seems kind of pointless, though, with the impenetrable IC embankment just out of sight at the bottom.

I don't think so. The same linetype is used for a path crossing the lagoon, and I'm sure that won't be a tunnel. My guess is that those indicate some kind of future phasing, maybe for improvements that are conditional on outside approvals like CDOT and the Park District. If Cornell is closed off, that will shift a lot of traffic to Stony Island where a pedestrian bridge might be desirable instead of a crosswalk. Nice to have, but not essential - similar to a new bridge over the lagoon.

[vexxed82]

Originally Posted by BuildThemTaller

Has anyone mentioned frustrum yet? Between the Obama Library + Museum and Vista, the frustrum is the new shape of Chicago...

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Gotta get #Frustrumtecture trending on Instagram...

[aaron38]

On the whole: oof, not a fan.

Questions:
1) Why not put the Forum up against the street and put the plaza on the east, where it has a view of the pond and is sheltered from traffic noise.? If they have to build in the park, build along the street.

2) Is that water basin on the site of the circular feature at the end of the Midway? What is that and why is it getting turned into a water feature? Why is Stony Island Ave getting bowed out for it?

3) Why is a proposed Athletic Center being put in the park when there's a large empty lot between 63rd and 64th next to the tracks?

[Randomguy34]

To answer number 3), a 10(12?) story development was announced a month ago for that lot

[vexxed82]

Originally Posted by aaron38

On the whole: oof, not a fan.

Questions:
1) Why not put the Forum up against the street and put the plaza on the east, where it has a view of the pond and is sheltered from traffic noise.? If they have to build in the park, build along the street.

...

My marginally-educated guess is that they want to create a welcoming, open presence when appraocing from the West. This way, there's no 'back' to the entire campus.

[UChicagoLand]

Obama Presidential Library:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/o...503-story.html

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...ary/101238328/

[aaron38]

This does remind me a lot of the Krannert Performing Arts Center at U of I Champaign, with the roof access.